Portugal national football team’s head coach, Jorge Jesus, has stated that star player Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the national squad if he wishes, despite recent reports of Ronaldo rejecting talks with the coach and his absence from recent matches.
Speculation about Ronaldo’s international future has intensified after he was substituted during Portugal’s Nations League match against Wales on September 24, 2026. He was then an unused substitute in the subsequent game against Norway on September 27. Coach Jesus described this decision as a ‘strategic choice’ and ‘load management’, noting Ronaldo had played approximately 70 minutes against Wales.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, reportedly felt ‘disrespected’ by being benched. After being informed he would also be on the bench for the match against Denmark, he left the team on September 28, 2026, and returned to Saudi Arabia. Reports further indicate that Ronaldo rejected a proposal for talks with coach Jesus on October 4, 2026.
Portugal’s performance without Ronaldo
In Ronaldo’s absence, Portugal secured significant victories, defeating Denmark 4-2 and Norway 2-1. These results made Portugal the first team to qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals. Portugal’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has maintained that Ronaldo remains a crucial player for the team and denied any internal divisions. Coach Jesus echoed this sentiment, stating that Ronaldo has always been important to the national team since his appointment.
Ronaldo, who made his debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18, is the country’s all-time leading goal scorer and most-capped player, having participated in six World Cups. In an interview with Vogue magazine in August 2026, Ronaldo suggested that the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season might be his final year in professional football.
What’s next for Ronaldo and the national team?
Coach Jesus indicated that he might engage in further discussions with Ronaldo before Portugal’s upcoming Nations League matches against Denmark on November 14, 2026, and Wales on November 17, 2026. However, Jesus emphasized that the final decision regarding Ronaldo’s return rests with the player himself. Ronaldo has publicly vowed to reveal the full truth about his departure from the national team to the Portuguese people ‘when the time comes’.
It remains unclear when Ronaldo will disclose his reasons for leaving the squad, whether he will return for the November fixtures, and the definitive timeline for his potential retirement from international football.
